Aids: An Extending Scourge

by PRASHER, G. | Category: Focus | May 2005

The International AIDs Conference held in Bangkok last July highlighted startling realities about the still expanding devastation through this disease: also the menace of rapidly spreading HIV infection.

Since the AIDs virus was first identified about twenty-five years ago the disease has claimed an estimated 28 million lives worldwide, while an estimated 40 million people are now infected with HIV. The virus tends first to spread rapidly among high risk groups such as prostitutes and their clients, injecting drug users and promiscuous gay men: then it spreads to the wider population. The United Nations AIDs Agency reported that throughout the world almost three million died of AIDs in Year 2002, and a record five million were infected by the HIV virus.

Through Moses God warned His people Israel that if they departed from His way they would experience chastening judgements. Among these were 'extraordinary plagues - great and prolonged plagues - and serious and prolonged sicknesses' (Deut.28:59). The same principle of retribution for defiance of the Creator's basic instructions to mankind generally is also confirmed in Scripture. Three times in Romans chapter 1 we find the expression 'God gave them over' (NIV and NASB):

'Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them'. (verse 24)

'For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions' (verse 26).

'And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper ...' (verse 28)

Today's AIDs pandemic may without exaggeration be described as an extraordinary, great, serious and prolonged plague! It is directly associated with disregard for God's marital standards, although of course millions of children are born with the HIV infection - victims of others' failure.

Much the worst affected area is sub-Saharan Africa with 25 million cases. In Swaziland and Botswana one in every three people are infected. Life expectancy in such countries has slumped to less than 40 years. It is estimated that by year 2010 half of all the children in Botswana will be orphaned through AIDs. Until recently people shrank from coming forward to be tested because of the stigma attached to the disease. The government now requires routine testing of all patients for whatever condition they are admitted to hospital. Special AIDs clinics have been opened with facilities to treat 20,000 people, but this covers only 25% of the total at risk. There remains a huge backlog to be overtaken.

The infection has spread alarmingly among nations in Latin America and Asia, including China and Indonesia. India now has about 5 million people with confirmed HIV infection. A major factor in Asian countries is considered to be the large percentage of men who regularly visit prostitutes. Eastern Europe and Central Asia are now experiencing 'the fastest growth of HIV infection in the history of AIDs' (International Herald Tribune). This includes Russia, where there are 3 million injecting drug users, 860,000 with HIV infection. Western Europe has more than half a million HIV infected people. In Britain the infection rate has doubled since 1998, and most of the new victims are heterosexual.

At the International Aids Conference in Bangkok last July it was confirmed that some $4.7 billion had been spent on combating the disease in Year 2003. The United States undertook to provide $15 billion over the next five years - a fifth to be spent on preventative campaigns, and the balance on treating those infected and providing care for the millions of children orphaned as a result of the disease.

What immense cost through human departure from the wisdom of divine counsel!

PRASHER, G. | May 2005
Focus